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Kansas City, Kansas, firefighters were called to the 2300 block of West 39th Street about 2 a.m. The building has 144 apartments, many of which are home to people with disabilities and other special needs.

A woman who lives in the unit where the fire started said she woke up smelling smoke and saw her stove on fire.

One resident reported hearing a commotion and coming outside and seeing smoke.

"I opened the door and the smoke, thick, acrid, nasty smoke billowed in. I ran across the hall to open the main window in the hallway, came back, called 911 and then the water, it was like the tide rushing into my apartment," said the resident.

"I heard a bang and I guess that's when the fireman knocked my door in and he says, 'Are you OK?' and I said, 'Yeah, I'm OK,'" said resident Bob Edwards.

Firefighters helped several people out of the building. No injuries were reported.

The fire was mostly contained to the second floor. Firefighters said they reached the scene in four minutes and had the fire under control within a half hour.

The Red Cross was called to help about a dozen people who would not be allowed to return to their units.

Some residents said the fire alarm system hasn't worked in the building for a couple of months. One resident said they had not had a fire drill in weeks because the system was broken.

"They had to rewire the system in the office," said seventh-floor resident Joyce Robinson.

People said they're relieved to hear the fire alarm system is now a top priority.

"I've been on the outside of a fire looking in, but I haven't ever been stuck on the inside of one, and that's a scary thought," said resident Kathy Cunningham.